January 22, 2005

Name:

Tom

Age:

Twelve years old

Gender:

Male

Kind:

Red eared slider

Home:

Brooklyn, New York, USA

I
got Tom when I was about six years old as a birthday gift. He was about
the size of a quarter. Tom and I grew up together. I don't know what my
life would be like without him. He always brings me happiness when I am
down, because no matter what happens, He is always waiting for me at
home, with a smile on his face! Tom is a very intelligent turtle. He is
not only my pet, but he is my friend. I know him well, and I can tell
when he is in a happy or bad mood. Whenever I enter the room, he dives
off of his rock and starts splashing. He is always happy to see me.

When Tom was a few years old, I discovered that when I point a pencil at
his nose through the glass, he raises his claws and flutters them in
front of his face. I called it "tapdancing", at my also young
age, because it made little tapping noises on the tank. Whenever someone
came over to visit, I couldn't wait to show them my infamous
"tap-dancing turtle". When I got older, I later read in a book that this
act is actually a mating ritual used in the wild to attract females. I
thought about getting him a mate, but I decided it would be a bad idea,
because Tom is very territorial. When I clean his tank with a net, or
put any new objects in his tank, he attacks it! But, even so, he knows
me, and never bites my hand.

Tom is my baby, and I love him as a family member. I hope that he has
many good years of health ahead of him, because without him, my life
would be dull.